Nepal’s Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, and India’s Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, have signed a significant agreement aimed at expanding the cross-border transmission infrastructure between the two countries.
The agreement was signed during Minister Khattar’s two-day official visit to Nepal and represents a major milestone in the deepening energy cooperation between Nepal and India.
This development follows a previous agreement signed on February 12, 2025, during the 12th meeting of the Nepal-India Secretary-Level Joint Steering Committee in New Delhi. That agreement paved the way for the establishment of a joint company tasked with constructing the 400 kV Inaruwa–New Purnia and Dodhara–Bareilly transmission lines. A subsequent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed to initiate the formation of the joint venture.
The agreement was formally signed by Kamal Acharya, Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, and Yatindra Dwivedi, Director of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL).
According to the terms, the joint companies on each side of the border will be majority-owned by their respective countries—Nepal will hold 51 percent of the company on its side, while India will hold 51 percent ownership of the company on its side. The remaining 49 percent will be held by the counterpart.
The Inaruwa–New Purnia transmission line will span approximately 25 kilometers in Nepal and 100 kilometers in India. Meanwhile, the Dodhara–Bareilly line will cover around 35 kilometers in Nepal and 150 kilometers in India.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Khadka highlighted the strategic importance of the agreement for the energy sectors of both countries and expressed appreciation for India’s continued support in Nepal’s energy development.
